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I've never gone completely stakeless (the annoyance of exerting energy at the end of a tiring day looking for stake substitutes is more than the annoyance of carrying the stakes, for me, at least), but I have used several different things in lieu of stakes when they were convenient.

Small bushes near to the hammock, fallen widowmakers, and the occasional sapling have all been pressed into service now and again. Heck, I even tied off the tarp's corner to a picnic table once.

Anyone go stakeless on trips? I'm.contemplating trying to use natural materials instead of stakes. What have you used?

50/60 years ago we carried axes and once in awhile cut stakes on site from green saplings (and they weren't very good). With LNT that's not an option, you will need to search out dead and down branches, and have an axe, saw or large knife to shape stakes. And it'd hard to find anything strong enough. With the advent of Ti stakes any weight savings would be neglible. Then picture setting up in a heavy rain and searching for stake material!!

I haven't carried stakes for years. Easy to find sticks on the ground. Usually the act of breaking it will create a sharp enough point to easily push into the ground, if not a few swipes with ones pocketknife is all that is needed. A larger stick or rock can be used as a hammer too if pushing it in with ones foot isn't enough. Usually I need only two since there are enough saplings nearby to tie off to instead.

I am completely stakeless. I have only had to make a wood stake once or twice in the last two years. I guess it depends on where you go camping. In northern Minnesota there is always something to tie to. As an added bonus, springy branches keep your tarp tight.

"what do you suppose will satisfy the soul, except to walk free and own no superior" Walt Whitman